Watch Wet Markets Exposed

Wet Markets Exposed is a television show produced by Viceland that explores the controversial and somewhat gruesome world of wet markets across the world. These markets are known for selling a wide range of live animals, including exotic and endangered species, which are then slaughtered for use in medicine, food, and fashion.

The show features animal rights activists, law enforcement personnel, health officials, and undercover journalists who document the dangerous and unsanitary conditions of these wet markets. These markets are often located in densely populated urban areas, and they pose a serious threat to public health and safety because of the unregulated trade of live animals.

The show takes viewers on a journey through various wet markets across the world, including those in China, Thailand, and Indonesia. The series highlights the unsanitary conditions of these markets, with animals being kept in cramped, dirty cages, often stacked upon each other, with their dead or dying counterparts. In many cases, species are sold for their supposed medicinal properties, despite there being no scientific evidence to support these claims.

The program features multiple interviews with experts who voice their concerns over the dangers of wet markets. These experts discuss the link between the emergence of new and deadly diseases, such as SARS and COVID-19, with the trading of live animals in these markets.

One of the critical points highlighted in the show is the role that sloppy hygiene practices play in transmitting diseases from animals to humans. The show takes viewers through many of the markets' dirty and disease-prone environments, where vendors handle and sell live animals alongside raw meat, seafood, and other foods in the same area, leading to the spread of various diseases.

Despite these dangers, some people claim that the markets are essential for their livelihoods, with many communities relying on this trade and illegal poaching to survive. The show features interviews with vendors and hunters who sell animals, including pangolins, wild boars, and bats, in wet markets. The series evaluates the complex web of actors involved in the trade, which includes farmers, brokers, middlemen, and consumers.

Wet Markets Exposed also calls upon governments to take action against the sale of live animals in wet markets to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases. The show criticizes the lack of regulation in the wet market industry, calling for tighter laws and stronger enforcement. The series argues for the need for public awareness campaigns, new animal welfare regulations, and rigorous enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal animal trafficking and the trade of wildlife.

Overall, Wet Markets Exposed is a thoughtful and insightful series that examines the controversial trade in live animals across the world. Drawing on the experiences of a wide range of stakeholders, including animal rights activists, health officials, farmers, vendors, and hunters, the television program provides viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding wet markets. Ultimately, the program makes a powerful argument for the need to take immediate action to combat this illegal and dangerous trade.

Wet Markets Exposed is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between October 28, 2020 and on Viceland